초록 ▼

An appliance is provided. The appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chamber. A container is received within the chamber. A biasing member is configured for urging the container upwardly along a vertical direction. By urging the container upwardly, the biasing member can lift the container and

An appliance is provided. The appliance includes a cabinet that defines a chamber. A container is received within the chamber. A biasing member is configured for urging the container upwardly along a vertical direction. By urging the container upwardly, the biasing member can lift the container and facilitate access to the container.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An appliance, the appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a chamber;at least one transverse guide supported by said cabinet;a drawer assembly suppor

1. An appliance, the appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a chamber;at least one transverse guide supported by said cabinet;a drawer assembly supported by said at least one transverse guide and configured for movement along the transverse direction in and out of the chamber of said cabinet on said at least one transverse guide, said drawer assembly comprising: at least one vertical guide;at least one track member carried by said at least one vertical guide and configured for movement along the vertical direction on said at least one vertical guide, said at least one track member defining a channel positioned within a vertical plane, the channel extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the channel positioned above the second end portion of the channel along the vertical direction;a container supported by said at least one track member;a biasing member configured for urging said container and said at least one track member upwardly along the vertical direction, said biasing member having a guided end, the guided end of said biasing member slidably received within the channel of said at least one track member, the guided end of said biasing member positioned at the first end portion of the channel when said container is being raised, the guided end of said biasing member positioned at the second end portion of the channel when said container is being lowered;a latch mechanism positioned at the first end portion of the channel, said latch mechanism configured for engaging and selectively securing the guided end of said biasing member at the first end portion of the channel; anda resetting member mounted within the chamber of said cabinet, said resetting member having a sloped surface for engaging the guided end of said biasing member. 2. The appliance of claim 1, wherein the channel of said at least one track member extends between a top segment and a bottom segment, the channel having an arcuate shape in the vertical plane between the top segment and the bottom segment. 3. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said drawer assembly further comprises: a door mounted to said at least one transverse guide and configured for providing selective access to the chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction; andwherein said latch mechanism comprises a bottom latch positioned at the bottom portion of said door, said bottom latch selectively securing said at least one track member and said container in a retracted position. 4. The appliance of claim 3, wherein the channel of said at least one track member extends between a top segment and a bottom segment, wherein said latch mechanism further comprises an upper latch mounted at the top portion of said door and selectively securing the guided end of said biasing member when the guided end of said biasing member is positioned in the top segment of the channel. 5. The appliance of claim 1, further comprising: a closing lockout having a bar rotatably mounted to said drawer assembly, the bar extending between a first end and a second end, the first end of the bar rotatable between a first position when said container is in a retracted position and a second position when said container is in an extended position, the first and second positions spaced apart along the vertical direction;a door mounted to said at least one transverse guide and configured for providing selective access to the chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction; andwherein said latch mechanism comprises a bottom latch positioned at the bottom portion of said door, said bottom latch selectively securing said at least one track member and said container in a retracted position, said latch mechanism also having an actuator and a transfer member, the actuator configured for moving the transfer member in order to operate said bottom latch; anda lifting lockout having a block, the block positioned beneath the transfer member of said latch mechanism along the vertical direction when said drawer assembly is in a closed position in order to prevent operation of said bottom latch with the transfer member. 6. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said drawer assembly further comprises framing connecting said at least one transverse guide and said at least one vertical guide, wherein said biasing member extends between the guided end and a fixed end, the fixed end of said biasing member being rotatably mounted to the framing of said drawer assembly. 7. The appliance of claim 6, further comprising a cross-bar that extends from said at least one track member and a damper that extends between said framing and said cross-bar. 8. The appliance of claim 1, wherein said biasing member comprises at least one of a gas strut, a spring, a linear actuator, and a solenoid. 9. An appliance, the appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a chamber;at least one transverse guide supported by said cabinet;a drawer assembly supported by said at least one transverse guide and configured for movement along the transverse direction in and out of the chamber of said cabinet on said at least one transverse guide, said drawer assembly comprising: at least one vertical guide;a container carried by said at least one vertical guide and configured for movement along the vertical direction on said at least one vertical guide, said container defining a channel positioned within a vertical plane, the channel extending between a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion of the channel positioned above the second end portion of the channel along the vertical direction;a biasing member configured for urging said container upwardly along the vertical direction, said biasing member having a guided end that is slidably received into the channel of said container, the guided end of said biasing member positioned at the first end portion of the channel when said container is being raised, the guided end of said biasing member positioned at the second end portion of the channel when said container is being lowered;a latch mechanism positioned at the first end portion of the channel, said latch mechanism configured for engaging and selectively securing the guided end of said biasing member at the first end portion of the channel; anda resetting member mounted within the chamber of said cabinet, said resetting member having a sloped surface for engaging the guided end of said biasing member. 10. The appliance of claim 9, wherein the channel of said container extends between a top segment and a bottom segment, the channel having an arcuate shape in the vertical plane between the top segment and the bottom segment. 11. The appliance of claim 9, further comprising: a door mounted to said at least one transverse guide and configured for providing selective access to the chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction; andwherein said latch mechanism comprises a bottom latch positioned at the bottom portion of said door, said bottom latch selectively securing said at least one track member and said container in a retracted position. 12. The appliance of claim 11, wherein the channel of said container extends between a top segment and a bottom segment, wherein said latch mechanism further comprises an upper latch mounted at the top portion of said door and selectively securing the guided end of said biasing member when the guided end of said biasing member is positioned in the top segment of the channel. 13. The appliance of claim 9, wherein said drawer assembly further comprises framing connecting said at least one transverse guide and said at least one vertical guide, wherein said biasing member extends between the guided end and a fixed end, the fixed end of said biasing member being rotatably mounted to the framing of said drawer assembly. 14. The appliance of claim 13, further comprising a damper extending between said framing and said container. 15. The appliance of claim 9, wherein said biasing member comprises at least one of a gas strut, a spring, a linear actuator, and a solenoid. 16. A refrigerator appliance, the refrigerator appliance defining vertical, lateral, and transverse directions, the vertical, lateral, and transverse directions being mutually perpendicular, the refrigerator appliance comprising: a cabinet defining a chilled chamber for receipt of food items for storage;at least one transverse guide supported by said cabinet;a drawer assembly supported by said at least one transverse guide and configured for movement along the transverse direction in and out of the chilled chamber of said cabinet on said at least one transverse guide, said drawer assembly comprising: at least one vertical guide;at least one track member carried by said at least one vertical guide and configured for movement along the vertical direction on said at least one vertical guide;a container supported by said at least one track member; anda biasing member configured for urging said container and said at least one track member upwardly along the vertical direction, said biasing member having a guided end, the guided end of said biasing member configured for sliding between a lifting configuration and a lowering configuration, the guided end of the biasing member positioned higher along the vertical direction when said container is being raised than when said container is being lowered;wherein, said biasing member exerts sufficient force to lift said container upwardly along the vertical direction when said biasing member is in the lifting configuration; andwherein, said biasing member exerts insufficient force to lift said container upwardly along the vertical direction when said biasing member is in the lowering configuration;a door mounted to said at least one transverse guide and configured for providing selective access to the chamber of said cabinet, said door extending between a top portion and a bottom portion along the vertical direction; anda latch mechanism comprising a bottom latch positioned at the bottom portion of said door, an upper latch positioned at the top portion of said door and a transfer member, said bottom latch selectively securing said at least one track member and said container in a retracted position, said top latch engaging and selectively securing the guided end of said biasing member when the guided end of said biasing member is in the lifting configuration, said transfer member coupling said upper and lower latches such that said upper and lower latches actuate together. 17. The refrigerator appliance of claim 16, wherein said biasing member comprises at least one of a gas strut, a spring, a linear actuator, and a solenoid.